At Tulane, the program leading to the JD degree is offered only on a full-time basis over the course of three academic years (six semesters). The degree requires successful completion of 88 semester hours, unless pursued as a joint-degree program.

JD Program

The Juris Doctor (JD) is the first professional law degree in the United States and is offered at Tulane on a full-time basis only. The program requires satisfactory completion of 88 semester hours of coursework over the course of three academic years.

At the time of matriculation, students entering the JD program normally hold a baccalaureate degree from an institution that is a member of its regional accrediting association. However, some exceptional students may be admitted on the basis of having completed three-quarters of the work toward a four-year baccalaureate degree. (At least 90 percent of this work must be in courses of substantial intellectual content.) In addition, we offer a 3/3 Program for eligible undergraduates at Newcomb-Tulane College.

All applicants to the JD program are required to have taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) within five years prior to enrollment and to register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS).

Applicants must submit a completed application form, the $60 application fee (or documentation supporting a fee waiver request), and supporting documents as indicated on the application form, including a personal statement or essay.

The application fee may be paid by credit card, by check or by money order.

hard copy application materials in pdf format can be provided upon request; contact admissions@law.tulane.edu or 504.865.5930

A complete application consists of:

the completed application form, including essay and supporting explanations and documentation

$60 application fee or fee waiver request and documentation LSDAS report, which includes documentation of LSAT score(s), copies of transcripts of all university-level work, analysis of those transcripts, and any letters of recommendation submitted through the LSAC letter of recommendation service

certified copies of transcripts of post-baccalaureate academic work

Letters of recommendation are not required, but can be very useful and are encouraged if they provide information about a student's intelligence, imagination, diligence, or other qualities valuable to successful study, based upon personal knowledge of the person writing the letter. We encourage and prefer use of the LSAC letter of recommendation service, which is included in the subscription to LSDAS. We recommend that a maximum of three letters be submitted. Letters must include verifiable signatures and addresses. Recommenders who wish to send letters directly to Tulane are welcome to do so.